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Thanks, one last question, how are the stats of a character in SAO determined?

I did a bit of reading about the show/LN before and got the impression a player's own physical abilities factor into what sort of stats and skills their in-game character got.

Spoiler for Answer:

I believe each level up grants a player some points that they can invest in whichever stat they want. That's what I was led to think, anyway. Stats were never really explained all that well in the light novels.

It seems to be more like about your brains, for example Kirito has good reflexes (aka his brain works faster) which allowed him to get something special, not gonna spoil that here, but from what it seems it's not that big factor, it's more about what skills your choose, which makes combinations to get some other skills you wouldn't get otherwise, thats how I understood it from novels.

Actually SAO characters are very dependent on stats, which is gained as free points to be distributed by the players when they level up. The Skill system works abit differently, skill proficiencies are gained through repetitive use of the skill in question

Why doesn't the government kill/arrest the creator? If he has some kind of dead man's switch, why don't they hack his servers or disable them physically while at the same time taking off the headsets?

Spoiler for Creator/Server/Helmet Info:

1. Kayaba was already in hiding when he took over the SAO system.

2. The kill command does not come from the server, but rather built-in to the program inside the helmet itself, which is why removing the helmet and being disconnected from the server for more than 2 hours are some of the criteria for the helmet to execute the kill order.

3. The government tried, but was unsuccessful at gaining control over the SAO system, the best they managed to do was being able to monitor player's progress in game.

So how actually are these players supposed to survive? I know they're supposed to play through the game and all, but how are they going to take care of their bodies in real life?

Spoiler for reply:

In the novels, during his speech, Kayaba said that he has given 2 hours for the players' bodies to be transported to hospitals or similar institutes, where they are put on IV drip. I have no idea why it wasn't included in his speech in the anime.

You level up these skill by doing them. Using a sword skill or generally attacking an enemy with a weapon will lvl up that weapon skill level.

Some of the skills have hidden parameters to be unlocked. For example, Katana is an offset from curved sword. But the thing is, it's a bit random(?) as not everyone who leveled their Curved Sword will unlock Katana. That is called an extra skill.
Kirito mentioned only about 10 people unlocked Katana for their skill set.

There's also something called an unique skill... but that's a bit too early to discuss atm.

So by levelling these skills, and putting stats points in the right status, you build your own character. Either as Dps or Tank or in between. Kirito is a full blown DPS by the way. I think his build is mostly str and a generous dex also and enough in const.

What other skills would contribute to the production of HP recovery items? I would assume that HP recovery items are in very high demand.

Do skillers appear in SAO too? (I did speculate alot about how non-beta players may have been better off starting off with skilling in the first week, in the first episode thread)

It'd also suggest that those specializing in bows may be better off investing in dexterity (running from monsters to gain distance), whatever stats improve evasion and bow damage, enough in Constitution not to die from hypothetical range monsters, etc.

What's Asuna's build? I presume cooking is one of the stats she invested much in, judging by the Op.

What other skills would contribute to the production of HP recovery items? I would assume that HP recovery items are in very high demand.

Do skillers appear in SAO too? (I did speculate alot about how non-beta players may have been better off starting off with skilling in the first week, in the first episode thread)

It'd also suggest that those specializing in bows may be better off investing in dexterity (running from monsters to gain distance), whatever stats improve evasion and bow damage, enough in Constitution not to die from hypothetical range monsters, etc.

What's Asuna's build? I presume cooking is one of the stats she invested much in, judging by the Op.

Thanks alot.

Asuna is a dex build with some str due to her use of a rapier and light metal armour. Her cooking is maxed though.
There are no bows in SAO mentioned in the series, dex is use to increase speed of movement and agility whilst str increase. Well strength.
The only healing skill known is "Battle Healing" achieved by taking damage

Asuna is a dex build with some str due to her use of a rapier and light metal armour. Her cooking is maxed though.
There are no bows in SAO mentioned in the series, dex is use to increase speed of movement and agility whilst str increase. Well strength.
The only healing skill known is "Battle Healing" achieved by taking damage

How else is healing done? Are there potions and such to recover HP, or are there no other HP recovery measures sort of Battle Healing?

How else is healing done? Are there potions and such to recover HP, or are there no other HP recovery measures sort of Battle Healing?

Spoiler for reply:

Yep, healing is done by quick healing regen pots, which are expensive due to the fact that they're quick at recovering HP, and slow healing regen pots, which heal don't heal the user as fast, but are less expensive.